ABOUT THIS BLOG

Vanessa

Top Social

Social Media

Top Navigation Menu

I have wanting to buy theCharlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundationsince Mother’s Day 2017, the reason being that last year on mother’s day I took my mum to the CT counter in Selfridges to get a makeover. Of course, I couldn’t just stand there so; naturally, I also booked one for myself.
I got my makeup done by the very talented Lucy Jones. She used the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation, and I was very impressed. It took me a few months to purchase a bottle as I have been in love with theChanel Healthy Glow Cushion Foundationfor ages and I just couldn’t think about being unfaithful to it, but seeing as it is £43 for 10g, I couldn’t justify getting another one for daily use.

When I finally got my hands on the Light Wonder Foundation, I was pleasantly surprised. First of all, I do love the packaging. It’s not the most glamorous, but it is the most practical and travel-friendly. The foundation comes in a lightweight, 40 ml plastic bottle with a narrow nozzle which makes it really easy to squeeze out the desired amount. The bottle is also seethrough, and I find it very handy to see when the product is running low. It's really frustrating when my foundation suddenly runs out, and I don’t have any back-ups.

I was pleasantly surprised by initial application. The name suggests that this is a light coverage foundation, but in fact, it has more coverage than the other light coverage foundations I own. Honestly, I would say it’s a medium coverage foundation that feels like a light coverage foundation. It’s really comfortable to wear and looks very natural on my skin. It does slightly catch on the dry patches in between my brows, but then again I haven’t found a foundation that doesn’t, and it’s only an issue when I don’t hydrate my skin enough. It does a fantastic job at evening out the skin tone and even though it doesn’t completely cover up my acne scars (they are very dark), it does a great job at fading them out. The foundation works by diffusing light and smoothing out imperfections. The finish is slightly dewy but not too much giving you a slight glow without any shimmer. Don’t be scared if like me you have oily skin as it doesn’t make your skin feel any oilier.
It’s also said to have youth-boosting actives that reduce wrinkles, but I can’t say much about that as I am lucky enough to have developed wrinkles yet.
I love how easy it is to blend. I normally use a stippling brush, and it doesn’t leave any brush marks at all, although I love going over it with a beauty blender. It doesn’t awkwardly cake up throughout the day

The foundation has 10 shades which isn’t overly impressive when comparing to other brands such as Nars or Fenty Beauty, but you do have a good selection. I was overjoyed when matched to shade 4 as it is a perfect match for me and that never happens. Foundations tend to be always slightly too warm on me. I use shade 3

This foundation contains SPF 15 which isn’t very useful in my opinion, when adding SPF to a product I wouldn't go for less than SPF 30, but that’s just my personal opinion.

It’s pretty evident that I love this foundation, I’m thrilled that I finally gave it a go and it has definitely become a staple in my makeup stash.

I am a big fan of Foreo since getting the Luna, I have the original cleansing device and have been using it for over 3 years and I’m still a massive fan. I was very excited when I first heard about the Foreo Espada, it uses blue light technology to kill acne-causing bacteria and also promotes blood circulation and skin renewal.
The device uses the dual power of laser-focused blue LED light and T-Sonic™ pulsations to blast blemishes out of existence. I mean, that claim alone was what sold the device to me.

So I did a bit of research to find out how blue light really works. As we all know, acne can be caused by a whole variety of things like diet or hormones, but the process is basically the same. Bacteria and dead skin cells trap excess sebum in pores, your skin becomes red and inflamed, resulting breakout. Nice!

Blue light technology has the ability to kill the bacteria it comes in contact with, more precisely, 3 exposures of blue light can kill up to 99.99% of acne-causing bacteria without damaging your skin. That means it doesn’t cause skin irritation or redness. The only problem with is that blue light can't penetrate that far down into the skin meaning, it might not be able to get to the root of the problem.

The Espada is said to take aim at your blemishes with the same powerful beam of 415 nm blue LED light used by dermatologists for professional treatments but at a fraction of the cost. The device is equipped with laser-focused cross hairs and T-Sonic™ pulsations, targeting pimples, clogged pores and blackheads.

The device is really easy to use, you just need to press the centre button to activate and point it at the blemish. The blue light and sonic pulsations will activate on skin contact and the treatment will last for 30 seconds. You can repeat the treatment up to 4 times in the same area.

The device in its self is quite cool, its lightweight and portable, the battery lasts a fair amount of time (about 50 uses). It’s made out of soft silicone, therefore, it's extremely gentle, and prevents the spread of bacteria from spot to spot. It’s also a 100% waterproof even though the device is more effective when used on clean dry skin.

That sounds nice but, does it really work?

In my opinion, it’s very expensive taking into account the results delivered. I might have had really high expectations before purchasing the device, I did kind of think spots would be dramatically reduced overnight and that was not the case. I do see improvement after using it but the change is so small I sometimes wonder if that’s due to the device or just my skin naturally healing itself. It also doesn’t help reduce acne scarring which is a shame. It’s also a bit time consuming if you have a fair amount of spots as the area it covers in really small, it only targets on spot at a time. Now that I have it, I do use it but if I could turn back time, knowing what I know now, I don’t think I would purchase the device.

Spring is the time for new beginnings, to spring clean your surroundings, get out more, and update your beauty routine. As the days get longer and warmer I feel that the products that worked for me during the colder months aren’t as suitable now.

I love giving my makeup stash a little update during spring, and I wanted to share with you the products I have been eyeing up.

I love using bronzers year round but I don’t tend to use the same type of bronzer throughout the whole year. In winter I usually go for matte bronzers whilst in spring/summer, I love using bronzers with a little bit of shimmer as I think they look amazing when the days are warmer and brighter. This year I will definitely purchase the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, I am a big fan of their powders in general but I feel like their bronzers are amazing. They have the slightest shimmer, very subtle and not glittery at all but manage to give you a glowy and healthy complexion.

Talking about glowy complexions, I am dying to purchase the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. I tried it in the CT flagstore and was completely won over. You can use it under makeup as a primer or over makeup as a highlighter. I was totally impressed! The Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick is also one I wanted to try purely due to the fact that it has amazing reviews. I still haven't tried anything from the brand and I am curious to find out if the products live up to the hype. The Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r foundation is also one on my list.

Becca has also recently launched the Ocean Jewels Highlighter Palette and as their highlighters are always amazing I really want to try the palette.

I'm a massive fan of liquid blusher in general and more so in the warmer months, this season I will definitely be trying out the Nars Liquid Blush. They have amazing shades and they even have their infamous orgasm blush in liquid form.

Spring is definitely the season for floral fragrances, this year I have my eye on the Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede perfume, I'm absolutely obsessed with the candle, and I think it would just be amazing to have the perfume also.

I'm dying to try IGK, they recently launched their products in Space NK and have amazing reviews, in particular, I really want to try the Direct Multi-tasking Dry Shampoo.

Herbivore is also a new launch in Space NK, I haven't heard anything about the brand but their aesthetics really caught my eye. I'm thinking of getting the Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner which contains oil-reducing antioxidants, sounds perfect for the warmer months. I also really want to try the Coconut Milk Bath Soak which has a coconut and vanilla scent, match made in heaven!

Do you have any spring beauty recommendations? Let me know in the comment section below.

We all know that Vitamin C works wonders at boosting your immune system but did you know about the importance of Vitamin C in your skincare? To be honest, until recently neither did I.
I have seen my mother use products containing vitamin C on her face and hands for years but I was never something I thought I should be doing.

Vitamin C penetrates your skin to fight free radical damage caused by the environment, it also helps fade pigment, stop inflammation and brighten your complexion. Vitamin C is also known for its anti-ageing skincare properties as it acts as collagen booster, making skin look firmer and more luminous. It can be used by everyone, of all ages as it both helps to prevent skin deterioration in the first place, and aids in the repair of damage once it's done. Its best used as part of your morning skincare routine, that being said, you can use it at night too as recent studies suggest that free radical damage continues to affect your skin overnight.

But don’t just buy the first Vitamin C product you find. Vitamin C is a vulnerable ingredient that breaks down when it comes into contact with light, air and water. Therefore, it's best to opt for formulas in air-tight packaging, pumps or single-use, individually wrapped products. The concentration of vitamin c in a product is equally as important, a potency of 10-20% means that results for the skin will be seen quicker and with better results. Vitamin C is available on the market in a variety of creams, serums, and transdermal patches Of these formats, it is usually the serum that contains active vitamin C.

Glossier has been talked about so much by beauty bloggers and influencers that when the brand started shipping to the UK the British beauty community exploded.
Glossier is quite a new brand and therefore its product selection isn’t that extensive at the moment, although it's growing quite quickly. Having a limited number of lines makes it quite easy to try each line, and its mid-price range contributes to that.

Glossier´s vibe is natural, easy to use makeup that helps achieve a healthy complexion. None of the products are too pigmented, they are aimed at enhancing your natural beauty rather than covering imperfections.

My favourite makeup product from the brand has to be the Cloud Paints, in particular, the shade Dusk. It gives a natural and healthy flush to the cheeks. I love the texture too, some cream blushers can feel a bit sticky on the skin, but this one just blends in effortlessly and dries down completely.

Brow Boy is also a favourite and it’s Glossier´s most popular product. The main reason why I love this product is that it doesn’t feel like a brow gel in the sense that it doesn’t leave your brows feeling crispy it actually feels more like a pomade and that´s how it sets them in place. I use the shade brown but I do wish they have more colours to choose from.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Haloscope highlighter. At first, I hated the texture as it felt like applying glue to the tops of your cheeks. But regardless, I was determined to use it as I hated the idea of letting £18 go to waste. Now it seems that I’ve gotten used to it. This highlighter differs from others by giving a dewy effect rather than a highlight glow. It is really subtle and blends seamlessly.

I loved the Generation G lipsticks at the beginning and even bought two, but to be honest I hardly use them know. There is nothing actually wrong with them (apart from the chemical smell) but its just not my first choice when I want to wear something on my lips. These lipsticks aren’t very pigmented although you can build them up, they have a matte finish but they are not drying in the slightest. If you like the blotted look then these are for you.

The Perfecting Skin Tint is an odd product. Although it provides no coverage what’s so ever (even less than a BB cream would) it does provide a fair share of luminosity. I don’t really use this product on its own but I do like using it underneath foundation as a primer as the dewy effect shines through.

If you don’t suffer from extremely dark circles then I would say the Stretch Concealer is a good concealer to use as its so creamy that is doesn’t tend to cake. The problem with this concealer is its lack of pigment, meaning that it doesn’t to much for my dark circles. I do use it for pimples or spots, although it doesn’t completely cover then it does make them look faded and doesn’t set into any dry spots.
Have you tried Glossier makeup? What’s your favourite product?

February has been
absolutely crazy, from mild winter weather to freezing cold snow, this month
has been al over the place. This crazy weather has definitely has affected my
skin and I have tried adapting my makeup to meet the needs of my skin.

These are a few
products that I have added to makeup bag in February.

Charlotte Tilbury Youth Brightening Glow: I only found out about the existence
of this primer when I went to the Charlotte Tilbury flagship store. Of course,
I immediately had to swatch it and instantly fell in love. The brightening glow
adds radiance to the skin, helps blur my pores whilst counteracting any
dullness. My skin looks even, plump and bright after application.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge: This is a multitasking cream colour
for lips and cheeks but I only use it as a blush. I love the juicy and
plump finish it gives to the cheeks. I am also a big fan of the slim, sleek
package. Its perfect for topping up during the day. You can apply it with
fingertips or stippling brush and its easy to blend. I have limited edition
Pretty Powerful packaging The full RRP less VAT will be donated to Smart Works,
a UK charity that gives high quality interview clothes, styling advice and
interview training to out-of-work women on low incomes.

Glossier Stretch Concealer: This is the ideal concealer to use on
your dry patches, the coverage isn’t amazing but at least to finish isn’t
flaky. It's definitely hydrating and it doesn’t cake like traditional
concealers.

Glossier Haloscope: This highlighter gives you glossy look
with no glitter particles for a dewy completion. It has a balm
core that helps the product slide on skin without any tugging. Its quick and
easy to use, ideal for applying before getting to work or school/uni.

Mac
Lipstick in Brave:I always seem to come back to this shade, it is definitely one
of my favourite lipstick shades. Its perfect for daily use, really easy to wear
and very versatile.